Gates

ABSTRACT

An improved gate for a fence for live stock or for other uses, adapted to be opened by a bumper on a vehicle. The gate has a latch bolt that fits within a hole in a latch plate carried by a fence post, to lock the gate in closed position. Toggle mechanisms are located on opposite sides of the gate so that the vehicle may open the gate regardless of whether it is being driven into the area enclosed by the fence, or is being driven out of such area. A movable part of each toggle mechanism is connected to the latch bolt so that when the vehicle bumper is pushed against a selected toggle mechanism, the latter will be moved to toggle make position and in turn retract the latch bolt.

nited States Patent Appl. No.: 363,361

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1931 Waldron 49/364 X 10/1957 KOCl'l 49/364 rubik 1 Oct. 29, 1974 i 1 GATES Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey [76] Inventor: Paul Hrubik, PO. Box 246, Orwell, Attorney Agent Firm-Mlchael wllllams Ohio 4404 122 Filed: May24, 1973 57 ABSTRACT mechanism is connected to the latch bolt so that when the vehicle bumper is pushed against a selected toggle mechanism, the latter will be moved to toggle make position and in turn retract the latch bolt.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Fi gures I PATENTEDnm 29 m4 8%!!! war 4 My invention includes novel gate construction which permits the gate parts to be manufactured and shipped in a compact package. This novel construction also permits horizontal adjustment of the gate to fit odd sized gate openings, or to compensate for miscalculatrons.

DESCRIPTION OF THE, DRAWINGS .In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part ofthis application, there is shown, for purpose of illustration, an embodiment which my invention may assume, and in these drawings:

FIG. I is a perspective view of my improved fence, in position to closean opening in a fence,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view showing the gate hinged to afence post,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view illustrating the toggle mechanism and its connection to the latch bolt,

,FIG. 4 is a sectional view corresponding to the line 4-4 ofFlG. 3, showing the toggle mechanism in toggle break position,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the toggle mechanism in toggle makeposition, and also fragmentarily showing a vehicle and a .bumper carried by the vehicle and pressing against the toggle mechanism,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a gate closing mechanism, and also illustrates a striker plate for the latch bolt,

FIG. 7 is a broken, fragmentary view illustrating construction enabling the gateto be made in sections for compact shipment and for adjustment purposes, and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view, similar to a portion of FIG. 1 and illustrating an attachment which will provide for toggle operation at any elevation within the height of the gate.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY Vehicle actuated gates are known in the prior art but, insofar as I am aware, have not met with commercial success. This may be attributed to the fact that the prior art gates are of complicated and unreliable structure. Gates of this type are usually located outdoors and thus are exposed to rain, dust, mud, corrosion and so forth. The operating mechanism of prior gates may function well when first installed, but after being subjected to all types of weather, eventually become unreliable and oflittle practical use. Thus, when the bumper of a vehicle is moved against the gate to open it, the gate would not be unlatched until a great amount of pushing force is applied, and such force frequently damaged the gate.

My invention provides a vehicle actuated gate that has operating components which will function despite weather conditions. I utilize the multiplication of force offered by toggle mechanism to effect control of the latching mechanism of my improved gate. Therefore, only a relatively small amount of pushing force is required from the vehicle bumper and no great strain is accordingly applied to the gate proper.

DISCLOSURE O THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT which may be of any suitable form, such as the wire fence shown, or a rail or other type of fence. The fence has an opening defined by a pair of spaced vertical posts 11, 12 which are solidly anchored in the ground.

The gate G is preferably formed of metal tubing to provide strength, and this tubing may either be galvanized iron, or aluminum or other rust-resisting metal. The gate comprises two end upright tubes l4, l5, and a center upright tube 16. Completing the rectangular gate frame are a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal tubes. As seen in FIG. I, such tubes comprise upper and lower tubes I7, 18, a pair of intermediate tubes 19, 20, and a centrally located tube 21. It will be appreciated that a greater or lesser amount of horizontal tubes may be provided, depending upon use requirements. The gate is supported from the post movement by hinges H which may be form. v

My invention includes a novel formation of the gate frame, so that it may be manufactured at the factory, shipped in knock-down relation, and assembled at the site. Not only does this formation provide economy in shipping costs,'but it also provides for adjustment of the horizontal length of the frame to compensate for odd sizefence openings or for miscalculations.

As seen in the various views of the drawings, and particularly in FIGS. 2 and 7, the vertical tubes l4, l5, and 16 are preferably square in cross-section. Welded to each vertical end tube 14 and 15, and extending from a side thereof, are a plurality of stub tubes 25, in numher and vertical spacing corresponding to the horizontal tubes 17 through 21. Welded to and extending from opposite sides of the center upright tube 16 area plurality of stub tubes 26, in number and vertical spacing corresponding to the horizontal tubes. It will be appreciated that parts 25 and 26 may be rods, instead of tubes, but at the present time tubes are preferred.

Each of the horizontal tubes is formed in two sections and of an inside diameter at opposite ends to slidably fit over respective stub tubes 25, 26. In FIG. 7, the two sections of the top horizontal tube are designated with the reference number for the particular tube,- with the suffix a or b added. For example, top tube section 17a is adapted to have its opposite ends fit over stub tubes 25 and 26 of end vertical tube 15 and center vertical tube 16 respectively. The other top tube section 17b is adapted to have its opposite ends fit over stub tubes 25 and 26 of end vertical tube 14 and center vertical tube 16. The other horizontal tubes are also formed in two sections and assembled with the stub tubes 25 and 26 of the vertical tubes l4, l5 and 16, in the manner described.

It will therefore be appreciated that my improved of conventional gate may be shipped in knock-down relation since the.

various tube sections enable shipment in a relatively compact manner. The gate may be assembled at the site in the manner described above. As seen in FIG. 2, each stub tube 25 (and also stub tubes 26) may have a series of longitudinal spaced holes 30 and the ends of each horizontal tube section may have a series of longitudinal spaced holes 30 and the ends of each horizontal tube section may have a single hole to'pass a fastening bolt 31. Longitudinal adjustment may be effected by passing the bolt 31 through a selected hole 30. Alternately, the holes 30 may be omitted from the stub tubes and a single hole may be drilled therein after the ends 12 for swinging of horizontal tube sections have been inserted over the respective stub tubes 25, 26 and longitudinal adjustment has been made.

Secured to the fence post 11, at an elevation just slightly higher than the center horizontal tube 21, is a striker plate 32 (see FIGS. 3 and 6) having a hole 33 for receiving the free end of a latching bolt 34. The plate 32 has horizontal wings 35 which are slightly angled to so that the end of the bolt may cam thereover on its way to seating relationship in the hole 33.

The latching bolt is slidable axially in a pair of spaced sleeves 36, 37 (see FIG. 3). The sleeve 36 has an end disposed within an opening in the vertical end tube 14 and is welded to this tube. The sleeve 37 is welded to the center horizontal tube 21 in axial alignment with the sleeve 36. A coil spring 40 is disposed around the latching bolt 34 and within the space between the sleeves 36, 37. One end of the spring bears against the sleeve 37 and the other end bears against a cotter pin 41 which extends through a hole in the latching bolt.

The spring 40 is compressed and resiliently urges the free end of the latching bolt 34 in a direction to the right, as viewed in FIG. 3.

The opposite end of the latching bolt has an eye bolt 42 threaded therein and one end of a flexible cable 43 is fixed to the eye of the bolt. The cable passes around a pulley 43.1 carried by a bracket supported on the center vertical tube 16 and extends through a slot 44 in such tube and upwardly within the interior thereof. Instead of the pulley, the tube 16 may have a curved guide surface over which the cable slides.

The opposite end of the cable 43 is fixed to the eye of a bolt 45, and the latter is threaded into an end closure 46 which is welded to the end of a slide tube 47. The tube 47 is preferably round in cross-section and has a-slide fit within the square vertical center tube 16. The upper end of slide tube 47 extends beyond the upper end of tube 16 and has a cylindrical stop 48 welded thereto at a place inwardly of its upper end. The stop 48 is adapted to abut the upper end of square tube 16, as shown in FlG. 4, to limit downward movement of the slide tube 47.

Bifurcated lugs 50 are welded to opposite sides of the upper end of slide tube 47, and milled lugs 51 are welded to opposite sides of center tube 16 at a position below the upper end thereof. A pair of levers 52 each have one end pivoted between the furcations of the respective lugs 50, by bolts 53. Pairs of levers 54 each have their lower ends pivoted to opposite sides of the milled lugs 51, by bolts 55. The sets of levers 52 and 54 are respectively pivoted to each other, by bolts 56, to provide toggle linkages 57 and 58 which extend at right angles to the plane ofthe gate, and from opposite sides thereof, as seen in FIG. 1. Small square tube sections 60-60 are welded to opposite sides of the central tube 16, at its upper end, to provide stops which prevent the toggle linkage from assuming a straight line position.

With the gate in position to close the opening in a fence (as shown in FIG. 1) and with the free end of the latching bolt seated in the hole 33 of the striker plate, entrance to or exit from the area enclosed by the fence is effectively prevented. A person may drive a truck or other vehicle to the gate, from either side thereof, and open the gate without leaving the vehicle. Since most vehicle owners would not want to mar an upper part of the front of the vehicle, a bumper plate 61 may be attached to the vehicle V, as by metal straps 62.

When the gate is closed and the latching bolt is latched, the toggle linkages 57, 58 will be disposed in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. When the bumper plate 61 is slowly pressed against the central pivoted portion of either toggle linkage, both linkages will be moved to a collapsed position shown in FlG. 5. Since the milled lugs 51 are welded to the center vertical tube 16, collapsing of the linkages will cause the slide tube 47 to be moved upwardly, and in turn pull on the cable 43. The cable will therefore draw the latching bolt 34 from the hole in the striker plate 32 and continued motion of the vehicle will cause it to brush against the gate to open it sufficiently to permit passage of the vehicle. As seen in FIG. 1, diagonal braces 65, 66 are welded to opposite side of the gate, and not only prevent sagging of the gate but also provide a side surface against which the vehicle may rub to fully open the gate. The braces65, 66 may be either flat bars, or tubes, and may be covered with material to prevent damage to the side of the vehicle.

After the gate has been opened and the vehicle has cleared the gate, my invention includes means for automatically urging the gate to closed position. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 6, bar clamp 70 is rigidly secured to the upper horizontal tube 17 near the end facing the fence post 12. An angle piece 71 is rigidly secured cross-wise of the fence post 12 at about the same elevation as the bar clamp 70. If the fence post is metal, the angle piece may be welded to it, and if the post is wood, the angle piece may be secured thereto by screws or bolts. Secured in holes in bar clamp 70 and the angle piece 71 are a pair of coil springs 72, each disposed on-a respective side of the gate. As the gate is opened, the spring on the gate side pushed by the vehicle will be tensioned, and will pull the gate back to closed position when the vehicle has cleared the gate. This will cause the latch operating parts to return to the position shown in FIG. 3, and the free end of the latching bolt 34 will ride over the respective wing 35 of the striker plate and will be urged into the plate hole 33 by the spring 40. The angle piece may have a plurality of holes 75 therein to receive the end of a respective spring and thereby provide adjustment of spring operation.

In some cases, it is desirable to provide an arrangement whereby the toggle linkages 57, 58 may be operated at any elevation between the top and bottom of the gate and the construction shown in FIG. 8 provides a simple attachment to accomplish this. Spaced blocks 75 are welded to opposite sides of the lower end of the center vertical tube 16 and the lower end of a channel 76 pivotally connected between each set of blocks. The upper end of each channel is pivotally connected to the pivot 56 of respective toggle linkages 57, 58. Therefore, any part of the vehicle which pushes against a respective channel 76 will effect operation of the toggle linkages.

l claim:

1. A gate for an opening in an enclosure, said opening being defined by spaced posts rigidly held within upright position,

said gate comprising a rectangular frame of a horizontal length to fit between said posts and having one side hinged to one post so that the other side may swing horizontally toward and away from the other post, said frame having an upright tubular member intermediate its horizontal length, and a slide tube within said tubular member,

a latch plate secured to said other post and having a bolt-receiving hole,

a latch bolt slidably supported on said gate and a spring for urging said bolt to extended position to enter said latch plate hole,

toggle means carried by said gate and movable between make'and break positions, said toggle means comprising a pair of levers pivoted to each other, the end of one lever being pivoted to said upright tubular member and the end of the other lever being pivoted to said slide tube,

means connecting said slide tube to said latch bolt,

said toggle means being urged to toggle break position and in such position said latch bolt is extended for fitting within said latch plate hole,

and said toggle means being movable toward toggle make position and in such position said connecting means causes retraction of said latch bolt from extended position.

2. The construction according to claim 1 wherein said gate has a horizontal member, and bearing means secured to said horizontal member for slidably guiding said latch bolt. I

3. A gate for an opening in an'enclosure, said opening being defined by spaced posts rigidly held in upright position,

said gate comprising a rectangular frame of a horizontal length to fit between said posts and having one side hinged to one post so that the other side may swing horizontally toward and away from the other post, said frame including horizontal top and bottom tubes and vertical side tubes connected to respective opposite ends of said horizontal tubes, one of said vertical tubes providing the frame side which is hinged to said one post, said frame further including an intermediate horizontal tube connected to said vertical tubes and an intermediate vertical tube open at its upper end and connected to said top, bottom and intermediate horizontal tubes,

a sleeve bearing secured to said intermediate horizontal tube adjacent to the other of said vertical tubes, latch plate secured to said other post and having a bolt-receiving hole,

a latch bolt slidable within said sleevebearing and a spring for urging said latch bolt to extended position to enter said latch plate hole,

a slide tube slidably mounted within said intermediate vertical tube and having its upper end projecting from the upper end thereof,

a flexible cable connecting the lower end of said slide tube to said latch bolt,

toggle means carried by said gate and movable between make and break positions, said toggle means comprising a pair of levers pivoted to each other, the end of one lever being pivoted to said intermediate vertical tube and the end of the other lever being pivoted to the upper end of said slide tube,

said toggle means being urged to toggle break position and in such position said latch bolt is extended for fitting within said latch plate hole,

and said toggle means being movable to toggle make position and in such position said flexible cable causes retraction of said latch bolt from extended position.

4. The construction according to claim 3 wherein each of said vertical side tubes has three stub tubes welded thereto and extending horizontally, and said intermediate vertical tube has three stub tubes welded to each of its opposite sides and extending horizontally and adapted to align with the stub tubes on said vertical side tubes,

said top, bottom and intermediate horizontal tubes each being formed in two sections, each section having its opposite ends fitting in telescoping relation with the stub tubes on a vertical side tube and the stub tubes on a respective side of said intermediate vertical tube.

5. The construction according to claim 3 wherein a clamp bar is secured crosswise of said top horizontal tube adjacent to said one vertical side tube to dispose ends on opposite sides of said gate,

a bar member secured crosswise of said one post to provide ends in corresponding relation to the ends of said clamp bar,

and a pair of coil springs, each tensioned between corresponding ends of said clamp bar and said bar member.

6. The construction according to claim 3 and further including a vertically extending operating member having its lower end pivoted to a lower end of said intermediate vertical tube and its upper end connected to the pivot between said pair of levers. 

1. A gate for an opening in an enclosure, said opening being defined by spaced posts rigidly held within upright position, said gate comprising a rectangular frame of a horizontal length to fit between said posts and having one side hinged to one post so that the other side may swing horizontally toward and away from the other post, said frame having an upright tubular member intermediate its horizontal length, and a slide tube within said tubular member, a latch plate secured to said other post and having a boltreceiving hole, a latch bolt slidably supported on said gate and a spring for urging said bolt to extended position to enter said latch plate hole, toggle means carried by said gate and movable between make and break positions, said toggle means comprising a pair of levers pivoted to each other, the end of one lever being pivoted to said upright tubular member and the end of the other lever being pivoted to said slide tube, means connecting said slide tube to said latch bolt, said toggle means being urged to toggle break position and in such position said latch bolt is extended for fitting within said latch plate hole, and said toggle means being movable toward toggle make position and in such position said connecting means causes retraction of said latch bolt from extended position.
 2. The construction according to claim 1 wherein said gate has a horizontal member, and bearing means secured to said horizontal member for slidably guiding said latch bolt.
 3. A gate for an opening in an enclosure, said opening being defined by spaced posts rigidly held in upright position, said gate comprising a rectangular frame of a horizontal length to fit between said posts and having one side hinged to one post so that the other side may swing horizontally toward and away from the other post, said frame including horizoNtal top and bottom tubes and vertical side tubes connected to respective opposite ends of said horizontal tubes, one of said vertical tubes providing the frame side which is hinged to said one post, said frame further including an intermediate horizontal tube connected to said vertical tubes and an intermediate vertical tube open at its upper end and connected to said top, bottom and intermediate horizontal tubes, a sleeve bearing secured to said intermediate horizontal tube adjacent to the other of said vertical tubes, a latch plate secured to said other post and having a bolt-receiving hole, a latch bolt slidable within said sleeve bearing and a spring for urging said latch bolt to extended position to enter said latch plate hole, a slide tube slidably mounted within said intermediate vertical tube and having its upper end projecting from the upper end thereof, a flexible cable connecting the lower end of said slide tube to said latch bolt, toggle means carried by said gate and movable between make and break positions, said toggle means comprising a pair of levers pivoted to each other, the end of one lever being pivoted to said intermediate vertical tube and the end of the other lever being pivoted to the upper end of said slide tube, said toggle means being urged to toggle break position and in such position said latch bolt is extended for fitting within said latch plate hole, and said toggle means being movable to toggle make position and in such position said flexible cable causes retraction of said latch bolt from extended position.
 4. The construction according to claim 3 wherein each of said vertical side tubes has three stub tubes welded thereto and extending horizontally, and said intermediate vertical tube has three stub tubes welded to each of its opposite sides and extending horizontally and adapted to align with the stub tubes on said vertical side tubes, said top, bottom and intermediate horizontal tubes each being formed in two sections, each section having its opposite ends fitting in telescoping relation with the stub tubes on a vertical side tube and the stub tubes on a respective side of said intermediate vertical tube.
 5. The construction according to claim 3 wherein a clamp bar is secured crosswise of said top horizontal tube adjacent to said one vertical side tube to dispose ends on opposite sides of said gate, a bar member secured crosswise of said one post to provide ends in corresponding relation to the ends of said clamp bar, and a pair of coil springs, each tensioned between corresponding ends of said clamp bar and said bar member.
 6. The construction according to claim 3 and further including a vertically extending operating member having its lower end pivoted to a lower end of said intermediate vertical tube and its upper end connected to the pivot between said pair of levers. 